Who Is The Agency Behind Surat’s Rs 21 Cr Water Tanker Collapse Ahead Inauguration? Ever Blacklisted Before?

"Rs 21 Crore pani me gaye"- This is what happened in Gujarat's Surat district, leaving 35 villages waterless.

​Well, in a tragic incident, a newly built water tank at a cost of Rs 21 crore collapsed even before its inauguration. This water tank was meant to supply water to 35 villages.

It was on Jan 19th during the time of trail run when the water tank collapsed.

As questions mount over poor construction quality and alleged misuse of public money, many are now asking who this agency is and how it secured such a large government project.

Who Is the 'Jayanti Swaroop' Agency?

According to officials from the Surat Water Supply Department, the project was awarded to the 'Jayanti Swaroop' agency at a cost of Rs 21 crore. The agency was responsible for the construction of the water tank from start to finish.

After the collapse, attention quickly shifted to the contractor's role in the project. Local residents and activists allege that substandard materials were used during construction, raising serious doubts about the agency's work practices and oversight.

Allegations of Poor Quality Materials

Following the collapse, debris from the site showed cement layers peeling off, strengthening claims of weak construction. Villagers alleged that the quality of cement and iron used in the structure was far below required standards.

Residents believe that cost-cutting and poor supervision may have led to the failure of the tank. Many have accused the contractor of compromising public safety for financial gain, calling the incident a clear case of misuse of taxpayer money.

Probe Ordered, Action Demanded

Jay Somabhai Chaudhary, Deputy Engineer of the Surat Water Supply Department, confirmed that the tank collapsed during testing and said a technical investigation has been ordered. Officials have assured that responsibility will be fixed once the probe is completed.

Meanwhile, residents of the affected villages are demanding a full inquiry into the role of the 'Jayanti Swaroop' agency, along with strict action against all officials and contractors found guilty. They have also urged the government to ensure that future water projects use high-quality materials to avoid such failures.

​Was Jayanti Swaroop Blacklisted Before?

Yes, based on available documents and reports, Jayanti Super Construction Pvt. Ltd. (also called Jayanti Swaroop) has been involved in several lawsuits and has multiple previous debarments in Gujarat going as far back as before their collapse on 2026.

​When the company attempted to submit a claim of Rs 9.26 Crore to the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd. (SSNNL) in 2019, they received notice of a show-cause and a debarment order due to their allegedly forged technical sanctioned registers which were the means to access the Rs 9.26 crore claim for an irrigation project completed in 2018.

Jayanti disputed this ruling at the Gujarat High Court, during which time they repaid the disputed amount to the Government Treasury in order to maintain their eligibility to work in the state. Following that period, Jayanti continued to have "litigation history" for several years thereafter.

​One month prior to the failure of the Surat tank, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) purportedly did not grant them a contract for a new Rs 73.95 crore lake interlinking project despite being the lowest bidder.

​The response to the AMC was based on an "informal" procedure established by the AMC to exclude Jayanti from competition on the basis of ongoing litigation and a history of inappropriate behaviour from the corporation.

This indicates that many other governmental entities had already begun to show concern over the company's track record; thus demonstrating how Jayanti's past actions have had an extended negative effect on their ability to do business in Gujarat.